An Orthopedic information source updated by the physicians of Cooley-Dickinson Medical Group Orthopedics and Sports Medicine; aimed at helping the active population of Western Massachusetts get the most out of life.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Preventing Throwing Injuries

Truck Day is less than a month away. For those of you non-Seam Heads, Truck Day is the distinctly New England holiday were Red Sox fans cheer the departure of the equipment truck as it leaves Fenway Park, heading to Spring Training. With this in mind, it is about time to start thinking about preventing throwing and baseball/softball injuries. We will be holding another thrower’s clinic toward the end of February, but until then here are some thoughts on injuries to throwers, and how to decrease your chances of missing games…

GIRD, Glenohumeral Internal Roation Defecit is one of the natural adaptations to throwing that occurs in the shoulder.
I once read that pitching is “... an injury in progress.” The mechanics and repetitive nature of pitching cause such unnatural forces through the arm that the body can’t help but attempt to adapt. One of the adaptations that occurs is that the muscles in the back of the shoulder get stronger and tighter. The Infraspinatus and Teres Minor muscles are important stabilizers in the shoulder and are engaged as a pitcher cocks their arm in preparation for the throw. As a season progresses, the posterior muscles become stronger and tighter than the anterior muscles. This uneven distrubution of strength causes the posterior muscles to act as a teather, forcing the shoulder joint to shift forward. It also prevent the shoulder from being able to approriately internally rotate. The forward shift of the ball in the socket causes wearing of the labrum and tendonitis of the biceps and the other rotator cuff tendon. Ultimately, this can lead to shoulder pain, decrease velocity or control, altered mechanics and elbow issues. This adaptation is very predictable but also very treatable. With a little guidance from a physical therapist, trainer or strength and conditioning coach, pitchers can incorporate the “Sleeper stretch” and rotator cuff exercises to achieve better balance in the shoulder.

We are a multispecialty Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Group. We have doctors with fellowship training in Hand Surgery, Joint Reconstruction, Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopic Surgery. HampOrtho has been providing orthopedic care for patients in the Pioneer Valley for over 50 years.